Method and ultrasound imaging system for adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter

ABSTRACT

An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring an image with an ultrasound probe, displaying the image on a touch screen, and detecting a first touch gesture inputted via the touch screen. The ultrasound imaging system and method includes selecting a region of the image based on the first touch gesture, detecting a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen, and adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region of the image based on the second touch gesture

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to a method and ultrasound imagingsystem for adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter of an image witha touch screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When acquiring and displaying images acquired with an ultrasound imagingsystem, it is typically desirable to have images with ultrasoundparameters that are consistent in appearance throughout the whole image.Images generated from ultrasound data often need to have one or morelocal region adjusted for an ultrasound parameter such as gain,brightness, or contrast. As more ultrasound imaging systems include atouch screen to both display the image and receive touch gestures, thereis a need for an easy and intuitive technique that allows a user toselect a region and adjust one or more ultrasound parameters for thatregion via the touch screen.

For these and other reasons, an improved method and ultrasound imagingsystem for adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter of an image isdesired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages, and problems areaddressed herein which will be understood by reading and understandingthe following specification.

In an embodiment, a method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring animage with an ultrasound probe, displaying the image on a touch screen,and detecting a first touch gesture inputted via the touch screen. Themethod includes selecting a region of the image based on the first touchgesture, detecting a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen,and adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region of theimage based on the second touch gesture.

In an embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasoundprobe, a touch screen, and a processor in electronic communication withthe ultrasound probe and the touch screen. The processor is configuredto control the ultrasound probe to acquire an image, display the imageon the touch screen, and detect a first touch gesture inputted via thetouch screen. The processor is configured to select a region of theimage based on the first touch gesture, receive a second touch gestureinputted via the touch screen, and adjust a value of an ultrasoundparameter for the region of the image based on the second touch gesture.

Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will bemade apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawingsand detailed description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound imaging system inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an image in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a hand with respect to an imagein accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of two hands with respect to animage in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an image in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a cine loop in accordance withan embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a volume acquired with anultrasound imaging system in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical,electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from thescope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasound imaging system 100 inaccordance with an embodiment. The ultrasound imaging system 100includes a transmit beamformer 101 and a transmitter 102 that driveelements 104 within an ultrasound probe 106 to emit pulsed ultrasonicsignals into a body (not shown). The ultrasound probe 106 may be alinear probe, a curved linear probe, a 2D array, a mechanical 3D/4Dprobe, an E4D probe capable of full beamforming in both elevation andazimuth directions, or any other type of ultrasound probe capable ofacquiring ultrasound data. Still referring to FIG. 1, the pulsedultrasonic signals are back-scattered from structures in the body, likeblood cells or muscular tissue, to produce echoes that return to theelements 104. The echoes are converted into electrical signals by theelements 104, and the electrical signals are received by a receiver 108.The electrical signals representing the received echoes are passedthrough a receive beamformer 110 that outputs ultrasound data. Accordingto some embodiments, the ultrasound probe 106 may contain electroniccircuitry to do all or part of the transmit and/or the receivebeamforming. For example, all or part of the transmit beamformer 101,the transmitter 102, the receiver 108, and the receive beamformer 110may be situated within the ultrasound probe 106. The terms “scan” or“scanning” may also be used in this disclosure to refer to acquiringdata through the process of transmitting and receiving ultrasonicsignals. The terms “data” or “ultrasound data” may be used in thisdisclosure to refer to either one or more datasets acquired with anultrasound imaging system. A user input device 115 may be used tocontrol operation of the ultrasound imaging system 100, including tocontrol the input of patient data, to change a scanning or ultrasoundparameter, and the like.

The ultrasound imaging system 100 also includes a processor 116 tocontrol the transmit beamformer 101, the transmitter 102, the receiver108, and the receive beamformer 110. The processor 116 is in electroniccommunication with the ultrasound probe 106. The processor 116 maycontrol the ultrasound probe 106 to acquire data. The processor 116controls which of the elements 104 are active and the shape of a beamemitted from the ultrasound probe 106. The ultrasound imaging system 100also includes a touch screen 117. The touch screen 117 provides andinput/output interface between the ultrasound imaging system 100 and auser. The processor 116 sends signals to the touch screen 117, causingthe touch screen 117 to display visual outputs to the user, such asimages, a graphical user interface (GUI), video clips, menus, or anyother type of visual output. The touch screen 117 outputs signals to theprocessor 116 based on the touch inputs, which may be in the form of oneor more touch gestures, received via the touch screen 117.

The touch screen 117 includes a touch-sensitive surface or layerconfigured to receive touch inputs from the user. The touch screen 117in combination with the processor 116 converts one or more detectedtouch gestures into actions, commands, or interactions. In someembodiments, the touch gestures may interact with a GUI displayed on thetouch screen 117. The user may interact with the touch screen 117 usingone or more fingers and/or an object, such as a stylus.

The touch screen 117 may use any type of technology to display visualoutputs including a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), avariable graphics array (VGA), or any other type of apparatus configuredfor displaying an image. Other display technologies may be used in otherembodiments.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “electronic communication” maybe defined to include both wired and wireless connections. The processor116 may include a central processor (CPU) according to an embodiment.According to other embodiments, the processor 116 may include otherelectronic components capable of carrying out processing functions, suchas a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA),or a graphic board. According to other embodiments, the processor 116may include multiple electronic components capable of carrying outprocessing functions. For example, the processor 116 may include two ormore electronic components selected from a list of electronic componentsincluding: a central processor, a digital signal processor, an FPGA, anda graphic board. According to another embodiment, the processor 116 mayalso include a complex demodulator (not shown) that demodulates the RFdata and generates raw data. In another embodiment the demodulation canbe carried out earlier in the processing chain. The processor 116 may beadapted to perform one or more processing operations according to aplurality of selectable ultrasound modalities on the data. The data maybe processed in real-time during a scanning session as the echo signalsare received. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “real-time”is defined to include a procedure that is performed without anyintentional delay. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “real-time”will be additionally defined to include an action occurring within 2seconds. For example, if data is acquired, then a real-time display ofthat data would occur within 2 seconds. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that most real-time procedures or processes will be performedin substantially less time than 2 seconds. The data may be storedtemporarily in a buffer (not shown) during a scanning session andprocessed in less than real-time in a live or off-line operation. Someembodiments of the invention may include multiple processors (not shown)to handle the processing tasks. For example, a first processor may beutilized to demodulate and decimate the RF signal while a secondprocessor may be used to further process the data prior to displaying animage. It should be appreciated that other embodiments may use adifferent arrangement of processors.

The ultrasound imaging system 100 may continuously acquire data at agiven frame-rate or volume-rate. Images generated from the data may berefreshed at a similar frame-rate or volume-rate. A memory 120 isincluded for storing processed frames of acquired data. In an exemplaryembodiment, the memory 120 is of sufficient capacity to store at leastseveral seconds worth of frames of ultrasound data. The frames of dataare stored in a manner to facilitate retrieval thereof according to itsorder or time of acquisition. The memory 120 may comprise any known datastorage medium.

Optionally, embodiments of the present invention may be implementedutilizing contrast agents. Contrast imaging generates enhanced images ofanatomical structures and blood flow in a body when using ultrasoundcontrast agents including microbubbles. After acquiring data while usinga contrast agent, the image analysis includes separating harmonic andlinear components, enhancing the harmonic component, and generating anultrasound image by utilizing the enhanced harmonic component.Separation of harmonic components from the received signals is performedusing suitable filters. The use of contrast agents for ultrasoundimaging is well-known by those skilled in the art and will therefore notbe described in further detail.

In various embodiments of the present invention, data may be processedby other or different mode-related modules by the processor 116 (e.g.,B-mode, color Doppler, M-mode, color M-mode, spectral Doppler,Elastography, TVI, strain, strain rate, and the like) to form 2D or 3Ddata. For example, one or more modules may generate B-mode, colorDoppler, M-mode, color M-mode, spectral Doppler, Elastography, TVI,strain, strain rate and combinations thereof, and the like. The imagebeams and/or frames are stored, and timing information indicating a timeat which the data was acquired in memory may be recorded. The modulesmay include, for example, a scan conversion module to perform scanconversion operations to convert the image frames from beam spacecoordinates to display space coordinates. A video processor module maybe provided that reads the image frames from a memory, such as thememory 120, and displays the image frames in real time while a procedureis being carried out on a patient. A video processor module may storethe image frames in an image memory, from which the images are read anddisplayed.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method 200 in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. The individual blocks of the flow chart represent steps thatmay be performed in accordance with the method 200. Additionalembodiments may perform the steps shown in a different sequence and/oradditional embodiments may include additional steps not shown in FIG. 2.The technical effect of the method 200 is the adjusting of a value of anultrasound parameter for a region of an image based on first and secondtouch gestures received through the touch screen 117.

At step 202, the processor 116 controls the ultrasound probe 106 toacquire an image. The processor 116 may control the elements 104 of theultrasound probe 106 to acquire ultrasound data of a desired region of apatient. For example, according to an embodiment, the processor 116 maycontrol the transmit beamformer 101 to shape and focus one or moretransmit beams and the receive beamformer 110 to focus one or morereceive beams. The ultrasound data may comprise 2D ultrasound data or 3Dultrasound data of a volume. The ultrasound data may also comprise datafor generating a cine loop including a plurality of images showing aplane or a volume over a period of time.

At step 204, the processor 116 displays an image on the touch screen117. The image is generated from the ultrasound data acquired at step202. FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an image 302 in accordancewith an embodiment. The image 302 may be a 2D image based on 2Dultrasound data acquired along a plane or the image may represent aslice or plane based on data acquired as part of a volume acquisition.The image may be part of a cine loop including a plurality of imagesacquired over a period of time. The image may also be a renderinggenerated from volume (3D) ultrasound data. The rendering may includeany type of rendering including, but not limited to: projectionrendering techniques such as a maximum intensity projection (MIP)rendering, a minimum intensity projection (MINIP) rendering; surfacerendering techniques, and thin slab rendering or thick slab renderingtechniques. It should be appreciated that any other type of renderingtechniques may be used to generate an image from volume ultrasound data.

At step 206, the processor 116 detects a first touch gesture inputtedvia the touch screen 117. The first touch gesture is performed by a userinteracting with the touch screen 117. The first touch gesture maycomprise one or more single-touch gestures, or the first touch gesturemay comprise one or more multi-touch gestures. Single-touch gestures aregestures inputted via the touch screen 117 where the user only contactsthe touch screen 117 at a single point of contact. Multi-touch gesturesare gestures inputted via the touch screen 117 where the user makes twoor more points of contact with the touch screen 117 at a time. Forpurposes of this disclosure, the term “touch gesture” will also bedefined to include a touch of the touch screen 117 where the point ofcontact between the user and the touch screen 117 is stationary withrespect to the touch screen 117.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a hand with respect to an imageaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 4 includes the image 302 and arepresentation of a first hand 304 making a first touch gesture.According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the first touch gestureincludes covering the region 306 (shown in FIG. 6) of the image on thetouch screen 117. FIG. 4 shows a finger from the first hand 304contacting the touch screen 117 to select the region 306. While theembodiment shown in FIG. 4 shows a single finger contacting the touchscreen 117 to identify the region 306, it should be appreciated that theuser could use multiple appendages (such as fingers) and/or other partsof a user's hand to cover the region 306 on the touch screen 117.

According to other embodiments, a different type of first gesture may beused to identify the region 306. For example, according to anotherembodiment, the first touch gesture may include tracing a border of theregion 306 on the touch screen 117 or performing other gestures toindicate the region 306. For example, the user may trace a border aroundthe region 306 with a finger or a stylus. Or, according to otherembodiments, the user may touch the entire area within the region 306within a predetermined amount of time, such as within 1 second, within 2seconds, or within 5 seconds. The user may, for instance, move theposition of a point of contact between one or more fingers and the touchscreen 117 to touch all of the region 306 within the predeterminedamount of time. The value of the predetermined amount of time may bedifferent according to other embodiments or the value of thepredetermined amount of time may be user adjustable according to otherembodiments.

At step 208, the processor 116 identifies the region 306 on the imagebased on the first touch gesture. As discussed hereinabove, the touchscreen 117 may transmit signals to the processor 116 which the processor116 interprets as a command to select the region 306.

According to an embodiment, the processor 116 may graphically highlightthe region 306 on the image shown on the touch screen 117 to help theuser see the region 306. This allows the user to confirm that thedesired region has been selected. This may be particularly helpful forembodiments where the user is not inputting the second touch gesturewhile the first touch gesture is being inputted. For example, theprocessor 116 may use one or more of an outline, a color, a brightness,a translucency, and a pattern to graphically highlight the region 306.Graphically highlighting the region 306 allows the user to easilyconfirm that the region 306 is the desired size and shape with respectto the image 302 before adjusting the value of any ultrasoundparameters.

According to an embodiment, the processor 116 may graphically highlightthe region 306 on the image 302 after the user has inputted the firstgesture. For example, according to the embodiment where the user coversthe portion of the touch screen 117 corresponding to the region 306, theprocessor 116 may graphically highlight the region 306 for an amount oftime after the user removes the first gesture from the touch screen 117.This may, for instance allow the user to confirm that the selectedregion 306 is of the desired size and shape.

At step 210, the processor 116, detects a second touch gesture inputtedvia the touch screen 117. FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of afirst hand 304 inputting a first touch gesture and a second hand 305inputting a second touch gesture according to an embodiment. The secondtouch gesture may be inputted while the first touch gesture is beinginputted, or the second touch gesture may be inputted after the firsttouch gesture has been inputted.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment where thesecond touch gesture is a translational gesture. The embodiment in FIG.5 shows an exemplary embodiment where the translational gesture is in afirst direction 506. The user may perform the translational gesture bytouching the touch screen 117 in a location and then translating thefinger, and therefore, the point of contact, with the touch screen 117,in the first direction.

According to an embodiment, the user may increase the value of ANultrasound parameter, such as gain, by performing the translationalgesture in a first direction and decrease the value of the ultrasoundparameter by performing the translation gesture in a second direction508 that is opposite of the first direction 506. In other words,performing the translation direction in the first direction 506 wouldincrease the gain while performing the translation direction in thesecond direction 508 would decrease the gain. According to otherembodiments, the translational gesture may be performed in otherdirections, including, but not limited to, directions orthogonal to thefirst direction 506. According to other embodiments, translationalgestures in a first direction 506 may be used to adjust a value of afirst ultrasound parameter and translational gestures in a thirddirection 510 may be used to adjust a value of a second ultrasoundparameter, where the second ultrasound parameter is different than thefirst ultrasound parameter. The first translational gesture may adjust avalue of a first ultrasound parameter such as gain, while the secondtranslational gesture may adjust a value of a second ultrasoundparameter such as brightness for the region 306. Different embodimentsmay adjust different ultrasound parameters.

According to other embodiments, a second touch gesture of a differenttype may be used to adjust the value of the ultrasound parameter. Forinstance, the first touch gesture may be an expand gesture, such asincreasing the distance between two or more fingers while the two ormore fingers are contacting the touch screen 117, and the second touchgesture may be a pinch gesture, such as decreasing the distance betweentwo or more fingers while the two or more fingers are contacting thetouch screen 117. According to an embodiment, the expand gesture may beused to increase the value of the ultrasound parameter within the region306 and the pinch gesture may be used to decrease the value of theultrasound parameter within the region 306. According to otherembodiments, a first type of second touch gesture may be used to adjusta first ultrasound parameter of the region 306 and a second, different,type of touch gesture may be used to adjust a second ultrasoundparameter of the region 306.

At step 212, the processor 116 adjusts a value of an ultrasoundparameter for the region 306 of the image 302 based on the second touchgesture. The ultrasound parameter may include a display parameter, suchas contrast, brightness, or gain, or any other display parameter. Theultrasound parameter may also include a beamforming technique or abeamforming parameter. For example, according to embodiments where thebeamforming is performed in software, the processor 116 may adjustbeamforming technique applied to the ultrasound data associated with theregion 306. In other words, the processor 116 may apply a firstbeamforming technique to the portion of the ultrasound data associatedwith the region 306 and a second beamforming technique that is differentthan the first beamforming technique. The ultrasound data may be rawdata that has not yet been processed according to some embodiments usingsoftware beamforming. True Confocal Imaging (TCI), Adaptive ContrastEnhancement (ACE), and Retrospective Transmit Beamforming (RTB) arenonlimiting examples of different beamforming techniques that may beimplemented when performing beamforming in software. According to anembodiment, adjusting the value of the ultrasound parameter for theregion may include adjusting how much of a beamforming technique, suchas ACE, is applied to the region 306. For example, the user may adjustthe region so either more ACE or less ACE is applied to the region 306compared to the rest of the image 302 outside the region 306. Otherembodiments may use different beamforming techniques or may adjust theamount of various beamforming techniques that are applied to the region306 according to various embodiments. According to an embodiment, abeamforming parameter may include a transmit delay time or a receivedelay time.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasound parameter maycomprise gain, and the processor 116 may increase the gain for theregion 306 in response to a translational gesture in the first direction506. According to an embodiment, the processor 116 may control the gainof the region 306 with the second touch gesture. For example, the gainof the region 306 may be increased as the user moves the first touchgesture in the first direction 506 and the gain of the region may bedecreased as the user moves the first touch gesture in the seconddirection 508 that is opposite to the first direction 506. The secondtouch gesture may be used in a manner similar to a slider: the verticalposition of the point of contact between the user and the touch screen117 may determine the value of the ultrasound parameter, for the region306. According to an embodiment, the processor 116 may display a virtualslider 502, shown in FIG. 6, after receiving the first touch gesture.FIG. 6 also shows the region 306, which may be graphically highlightedaccording to an embodiment. The virtual slider 502 is shown next to theultrasound image in FIG. 6 on the touch screen 117, but in otherembodiments the virtual slider 502 may be displayed on top of the image302. The user may use the second touch gesture to control the positionof an indicator 504 on the virtual slider 502 to control the value ofthe ultrasound parameter, such as gain, of the region 306. The processor116 may optionally display more than one virtual slider on the displaydevice 118 at the same time. For example, the processor 116 may displaya first virtual slider in a first orientation to control a firstultrasound parameter and a second virtual slider in a second orientationto control a second ultrasound parameter. Or for embodiments wherevirtual sliders are not displayed, the processor 116 may respond togestures in either of two directions by adjusting the first ultrasoundparameter based on an overall vertical position of the touch input andadjusting the second ultrasound parameter based on the overallhorizontal position of the touch input. For example, gestures in thefirst direction 506 may adjust gain and gestures in the third direction510, orthogonal to the first direction 506, may adjust brightness. Or, asingle gesture may be used to adjust both a first ultrasound parametervalue and a second ultrasound parameter value. For example, the touchgesture could trace a non-linear shape on the touch screen 117, wheredisplacement in the first direction 506 adjusts the first ultrasoundparameter and, at the same time, displacement in a different direction,such as the third direction 510, orthogonal to the first direction,adjusts a second ultrasound parameter value.

The second touch gesture may be performed while the first touch gestureis being performed. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment where the second touchgesture is performed while the first touch gesture is being performed.According to other embodiments, the first touch gesture and the secondtouch gestures may be performed sequentially. For example, the firsttouch gesture may be used to identify the region and then, once theregion has been identified, the user may input the second touch gesture.

Different touch gestures may be used to control the values of differentultrasound parameters within the region 306 according to variousembodiments. For example, one or more translational gestures may be usedto adjust the value of a first ultrasound parameter, and a second typeof touch gesture, such as a pinch gesture or an expand gesture, may beused to control the value of the second ultrasound parameter. Forexample, a translational gesture in either the first direction 506 orthe second direction 508 may be used to adjust the value of the gainwithin the region 306, and a pinch gesture or an expanding gesture maybe used to adjust the value of a second ultrasound parameter, such asbrightness, within the region 306.

According to various embodiments, the processor 116 may apply either asharp border or a feathered border to the region 306 when adjusting thevalue of the ultrasound parameter at step 212. For embodiments with asharp border, the processor 116 adjusts the value of the ultrasoundparameter the same amount for the entire region 306. For embodimentswith a feathered border, the processor 116 may apply a featheringfunction within a predetermined distance of an edge of the region 306.For example, the processor 116 may adjust the value of the ultrasoundparameter differently in a portion of the region 306 within apredetermined distance from an edge of the region 306. FIG. 6 includes arepresentation of the region 306. The region 306 shown on FIG. 6includes an inner region 350 and an outer region 352 within apredetermined distance from an edge of the region 306. The processor 116may use a smoothing function within the outer region 352 to blend thechange applied to the inner region 350 with rest of the image 302. Thesmoothing function may, for instance, be a linear function or any othertype of function to reduce the appearance of the edge of the region 306with respect to the portion of the image 302 not within the region 306.

If it is desired to make an additional ultrasound parameter adjustmentat step 214, the method 200 advances to step 206, and steps 206, 208,210, and 212 may be repeated. According to an embodiment, a secondregion may be identified and a value of an ultrasound parameter for thesecond region may be adjusted.

If it is not desired to make an additional ultrasound parameteradjustment at step 214, the method 200 advances to step 216.

The image acquired at step 202 may be a static image, or the image maybe part of a cine loop, or it may be part of a volume acquisition. Ifthe image is part of a cine loop, the method 200 advances to step 218from step 216. If the image is not part of a cine loop, the method 200advances to step 226. If the image is part of a volume acquisition, themethod 200 advances to step 228 from step 226. If the image is not partof a volume acquisition, the method 200 advances to the end 236.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an embodiment where the image302 is part of a cine loop 702. FIG. 7 shows a plurality of images thatwould be displayed in sequence as part of a cine loop. For example, inFIG. 7, 701 is a first image, 702 is a second image, 703 is a thirdimage, 704 is a fourth image, and 705 is a fifth image. According to anexemplary embodiment, the image 302 acquired at step 202 may be thethird image 703. The region 306 is shown on the third image 703. Themethod 200 may advance from step 218 to step 220 if it is desired toadjust the value of the ultrasound parameter in corresponding frames.If, on the other hand, it is not desired to adjust the value of theultrasound parameter in corresponding frames, then the method 200advances to step 226.

As discussed above, if it is desired to adjust the value of anultrasound parameter in a corresponding image, the method 200 advancesto step 220. At step 220, the processor identifies a correspondingregion 706 in one or more other images in the cine loop. The processor116 may identify the corresponding region 706 in either some or all ofthe images in the cine loop 702. According to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7, the processor identifies the corresponding region 706 in thefirst image 701, the second image 702, the fourth image 704, and thefifth image 705. However, according to other embodiments, the processor116 may identify corresponding region 706 in only a subset of theimages. For example, the second image 702 and the fourth image 704 areboth adjacent to the third image 703. The processor 116 may onlyidentify corresponding regions within a specified number of images ofthe image where the region was identified in the cine loop 702.

The corresponding region is shown in the first image 701, the secondimage 702, the fourth image 704, and the fifth image 705 according tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The corresponding region 706 is shown indashed line in FIG. 7. The processor 116 may use a variety of techniquesto identify the corresponding region 706 in one or more other images inthe cine loop 702. For example, the processor 116 may identify thecorresponding region 706 by using the same geometrical position withinthe image. For example, the corresponding region 706 shown in FIG. 2 mayhave the same position within the second image 702 as the region 306 haswithin the third image 703. According to other embodiments, theprocessor 116 may use other techniques, such as image processing, toidentify the corresponding region 706. For example, the processor mayuse techniques such as edge detection, B-splines, shape-based detectionalgorithms, average intensity, segmentation, speckle tracking, or anyother image-processing based techniques to identify a correspondingregion, with a predetermined amount of similarity to the region 306 inthe third image 703.

At step 222, the processor 116 adjusts the value of the ultrasoundparameter in the one or more corresponding regions 706 for the otherimages within the cine loop 702. The processor 116 may make the samecorrection to the ultrasound parameter in each of the correspondingregions 706 as was made in the region 306. Or, according to anembodiment, the processor 116 may apply a smoothing function so that theamount that the ultrasound parameter is adjusted in each correspondingregion 706 varies based on the distance to the image in which thecorrection was made. For example, the processor may apply a smalleradjustment to the value of the ultrasound parameter in the first image701 and the fifth image 705, both of which are two images away from thethird image 703 compared to the adjustment to the value of theultrasound parameter made in the second image 702 and the fourth image704, both of which are only one image away (i.e., they are adjacent tothe third image 703) from third image 703 in the cine loop 700.

Referring now to step 228, FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of anembodiment, where the image acquired at step 202 is part of a volumeacquisition. The volume 802 may be acquired with many differenttechniques, including acquiring images of a plurality of differentplanes. The volume acquisition may be performed with an ultrasound probewith a position tracking system, a mechanical 3D probe or an E4D probewith a 2D matrix array. It may be possible to generate and display animage of a plane or a slab of the volume. For example, 5 different slabsare show in FIG. 8 and they are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The image 803represents slab 3 and the image 804 represents slab 4. The region 306may be identified at step 230 in image 803 according to an embodiment.

The processor 116 may use a variety of techniques to identify thecorresponding region 706 in one or more other images representingdifferent planes in the volume 802. For example, the processor 116 mayidentify the corresponding region 706 by using the same geometricalposition within the image. For example, the corresponding region 706shown in FIG. 2 may have the same position within the second image 802as the region 306 has within the third image 803. According to otherembodiments, the processor 116 may use other techniques, such as imageprocessing, to identify the corresponding region 706. For example, theprocessor 116 may use techniques such as edge detection, B-splines,shape-based detection algorithms, average intensity, segmentation,speckle tracking, or any other image-processing based techniques toidentify a corresponding region, with a predetermined amount ofsimilarity to the region 306 in the third image 803.

At step 232, the processor 116 adjusts the ultrasound parameter in oneor more corresponding regions 706 for images of other planes within thevolume 802. The processor 116 may make the same correction to theultrasound parameter in the corresponding regions 706 as was made in theregion 306. Or, according to an embodiment, the processor 116 may applya smoothing function so that the amount that the ultrasound parameter isadjusted in the corresponding regions 706 varies based on the spatialdistance of the plane from the plane of the image in which theultrasound parameter was adjusted. For example, the processor may applya smaller adjustment to the value of the ultrasound parameter in thefirst image 801 and the fifth image 805, both of which are two imagesaway from the third image 803, compared to the adjustment to the valueof the ultrasound parameter made in the second image 802 and the fourthimage 804, both of which represent planes that are spatially closer tothe third plane than the first image 801 or the fifth image 805.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the method 200may be performed on one or more images that are part of a liveacquisition. According to an embodiment where the ultrasound parameteris adjusted in an image that is part of a live acquisition, the value ofthe ultrasound parameter may be adjusted in a single frame or image,such as during a freeze operation, for example, and then the same changein the value of the ultrasound parameter may optionally be applied toall frames acquired after the image during the live acquisition. Oraccording to other embodiments, the method 200 may be performed on oneor more images that were acquired at an earlier time and subsequentlyaccessed by the processor from a memory, such as the memory 120 shown inFIG. 1.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of ultrasound imaging, the method comprising:acquiring an image with an ultrasound probe; displaying the image on atouch screen; detecting a first touch gesture inputted via the touchscreen; selecting a region of the image based on the first touchgesture; detecting a second touch gesture inputted via the touch screen;and adjusting a value of an ultrasound parameter for the region of theimage based on the second touch gesture.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the first touch gesture comprises tracing a border of the regionon the touch screen.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprisinggraphically highlighting the border of the region on the touch screen.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first touch gesture comprisestouching the region on the touch screen within a designated period oftime.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first touch gesturecomprises covering the region of the image on the touch screen.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the second touch gesture is inputted whilethe region of the image is covered with first touch gesture.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the second touch gesture is a translationalgesture.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second touch gesture is atranslational gesture.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondtouch gesture is selected from the group consisting of a pinch gestureand an expand gesture.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasoundparameter is selected from the group consisting of gain, brightness, andcontrast.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound parameter isone of a beamforming technique and a beamforming parameter.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising displaying a virtual slider on thedisplay device after selecting the region with the first touch gesture.13. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is part of a cine loopcomprising a plurality of images, and wherein the method furthercomprises automatically adjusting, with a processor, the ultrasoundparameter for a corresponding region in at least one other image in thecine loop.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the image was acquired aspart of a volume acquisition, and wherein the image represents a planeor a slab from the volume, wherein the method further comprisesautomatically adjusting, with a processor, the ultrasound parameter fora corresponding region on at least one other image representing adifferent plane or slab in the volume.
 15. The method of claim 1,wherein adjusting the value of the ultrasound parameter within theregion comprises applying a feathering function within a predetermineddistance of an edge of the region.
 16. An ultrasound imaging systemcomprising: an ultrasound probe; a touch screen; and a processor inelectronic communication with the ultrasound probe and the touch screen,wherein the processor is configured to: control the ultrasound probe toacquire an image; display the image on the touch screen; detect a firsttouch gesture inputted via the touch screen; select a region of theimage based on the first touch gesture; receive a second touch gestureinputted via the touch screen; and adjust a value of an ultrasoundparameter for the region of the image based on the second touch gesture.17. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 16, wherein the first touchgesture comprises covering the region of the image on the touch screen.18. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 17, wherein the second touchgesture is a translational gesture that is inputted at the same timewhile the first touch gesture is being inputted.
 19. The ultrasoundimaging system of claim 16, wherein the first touch gesture comprisestracing a border of the region on the touch screen.
 20. The ultrasoundimaging system of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured tographically highlight the region on the touch screen after receiving thefirst touch gesture.
 21. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 16,wherein the image is part of a cine loop comprising a plurality ofimages, and wherein the method further comprises automaticallyadjusting, with the processor, the ultrasound parameter for acorresponding region in at least one other image in the cine loop. 22.The ultrasound imaging system of claim 16, wherein the image wasacquired as part of a volume acquisition, and wherein the imagerepresents a plane from the volume, wherein the method further comprisesautomatically adjusting, with the processor, the ultrasound parameterfor a corresponding region on at least one other plane in the volume.